Nagpur High Court Initiates Suo Motu PIL Over Widespread Water Contamination Crisis
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has taken decisive judicial action by registering a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in response to alarming reports of contaminated drinking water affecting numerous localities across the city. This intervention follows a detailed Times of India investigation that highlighted severe public health concerns.
Court's Stern Response to Public Health Emergency
A bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode registered the PIL on Thursday after taking serious note of the February report that revealed approximately 4 lakh households could be exposed to significant health risks due to polluted water supply. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the judges have directed the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and all concerned agencies to file their detailed explanations and responses promptly.
The court has appointed Ishika Mahadule as amicus curiae to assist in the matter and has directed her to file a formal petition within one week. This judicial scrutiny brings official attention to what residents have described as a widening public health crisis directly tied to the city's water quality monitoring system.
Widespread Contamination Across Multiple Zones
The contamination issue came to light during a review meeting convened by Nagpur's new mayor, Neeta Thakre, focusing on the city's water supply infrastructure. Municipal officials acknowledged receiving repeated complaints about foul-smelling and discolored water from multiple elevated service reservoir command areas, pointing to systematic failures in maintenance, monitoring, and quality control protocols.
According to reports, contamination complaints have emerged from nearly 50 localities spanning nine different civic zones:
- Laxmi Nagar Zone: East Samartha Nagar in Ajni
- Dharampeth Zone: Dabha Basti, Pandhrabodi, and Panchsheel Nagar
- Dhantoli Zone: Vasant Nagar supplied by Wanjari Nagar Old ESR
- Nehru Nagar Zone: Nandanvan Layout near Shamshan Mandir, Kawelu Quarter, Gurudeo Nagar, Sindhi Basti in Tajbag, and areas behind Tajbagh dargah
- Gandhibagh Zone: Gulab Baba Math (Siraspeth), Jalalpura, Mirza Galli Khadan, Ganeshpeth, Rajabaxa, and Lodhipura
- Satranjipura Zone: More than a dozen localities including areas around Itwari railway station, Prem Nagar, and Pili Marbat Chowk
- Lakadganj, Ashi Nagar, and Mangalwari Zones: Several affected parts
Remarkably, Hanuman Nagar was reported as the only zone that remained unaffected by the contamination crisis.
Systemic Failures and Immediate Concerns
Mayor Neeta Thakre expressed deep concern over possible causes including pipeline leakages, sewer cross-connections, and inadequate chlorination processes. She has directed immediate corrective measures, including comprehensive flushing operations and strengthened water testing protocols throughout the affected areas.
The issue gained particular urgency after TOI reported specific contamination incidents in Mankapur, where approximately 50 residents fell ill after consuming contaminated water. With complaints emerging simultaneously from multiple zones across Nagpur, serious questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the city's water quality monitoring system and the reliability of its promise to provide safe, round-the-clock water supply to all residents.
The court's intervention represents a significant escalation in addressing what has become a critical public health concern, bringing judicial oversight to a matter that affects hundreds of thousands of Nagpur residents daily. The coming weeks will reveal how municipal authorities respond to both the court's directives and the underlying infrastructure problems that have led to this widespread contamination crisis.
